Vehicle Profile: 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Vehicle Profile: 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (EVO for short) has always been known for being one of the best high-performance luxury sports sedans on the market, and for 2013 it’s no different. With its turbocharged engine, unique all-wheel drive system and precise handling to match, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution proves why it’s gained such a big following among performance enthusiasts. 

  

For 2013, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution comes available in two different trims: the base level GSR and top-of-the-line MR.

Don’t let the word ‘base’ fool you, as both trims come standard with a 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces an incredible 291 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque.

Trims 

Lancer Evolution GSR

The Lancer Evolution GSR trim comes standard equipped with a five-speed manual transmission that is responsive to the driver, and a very impressive set of standard features including RECARO semi-bucket racing seats, Brembo brakes (with four-piston calipers in front and two-piston calipers in the rear), and Enkei^® alloy wheels that come along with high-performance asymmetrical Yokohama ADVAN^® tires. The GSR is also equipped with a large, stylish, rear deck-lid spoiler and an aerodynamic rear diffuser. 

Interior features include a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, tilt steering column, remote keyless entry and an LCD multi-information display. 

The GSR gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway. Pricing for the GSR trim is $34,695.

Lancer Evolution MR

The Mitsubishi Lancer MR takes the above features and adds more high-tech features including Mitsubishi's six-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST) and an upgraded suspension package that includes Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers. 

The MR adds less weight to each wheel thanks to its lightweight two-piece brake rotors up front. To top it off the MR is equipped with BBS forged-alloy wheels and High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps.

Fuel economy figures for the Lancer Evolution MR are 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway EPA rating thanks to the above named TC-SST which uses two clutches to toggle through gears, making it shift much faster than a standard automatic or manual transmissions. 

The MR offers three automatic drive modes:  “Normal,” “Sport” and “S-Sport”.

Normal mode is for your regular everyday driving. Sport raises shift points higher in the rpm range and makes shifts even faster. S-Sport makes gears shift closer to the redline for optimal racetrack performance. 

The Mitsubishi Lancer MR is priced at $37,895.

Performance and Handling

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution comes with Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), which features three traction modes depending on the performance needs: Tarmac, Gravel and Snow. It puts together several technologies including a rear differential with Active Yaw Control (AYC), an Active Center Differential (ACD), a Sport Antilock braking system and Active Stability Control (ASC). 

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution’s suspension is equipped with inverted MacPherson struts in the front with a multi-link setup in the rear. It is lighter than before but made with strong components such as an aluminum roof, hood, front fenders, front and rear bumper beams, and exhaust outlets. The battery and windshield washer fluid tank were also moved inside the trunk to improve weight distribution.

Luxury Features

The 2013 Lancer Evolution has a great set of features including a six-speaker 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with a digital signal processor (DSP) and USB auxiliary input and automatic climate control.

One cool thing about the sound system is that it comes standard with Mitsubishi’s FUSE Handsfree Link System, which gives users wireless access with their mobile phone, as well as a USB drive interface in case you want to bring your music with you (which you can control through voice commands).

If you still want more, the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution offers an optional 710 watt, nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate system as well.

Safety Features

The Lancer Evolution comes equipped with the Mitsubishi Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body construction, which features crumple zones around the vehicle that send the energy from a collision around the body of the vehicles, and away from the fuel system, instead of the passenger compartment, protecting occupants from all directions and greatly enhancing the protection of drivers and passengers. 

Other safety features for the 2013 Lancer Evolution include: a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a supplemental restraint system (SRS) with occupant sensors, seven cabin airbags (two front, two seat-mounted side-impact airbags and two side-curtain air-bags), antilock brakes and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).  

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Stuck in the snow? Tips to get out!

Stuck in Snow? These tips can help!

There is one thing I have learned about the seasons on the east coast: Never trust them!

Even though this has been a particularly soft winter for us, you never know when the next freak winter storm will hit and leave us all stranded in our homes. So in case we get another epic “snowpocalypse” this season, here are some tips to get your car on the road!

1) Check the tailpipe and dig excessive snow and ice

Before you start your car, check the tail pipe and clear out any snow that might be covering it to prevent deadly gases from building up inside the car.

After clearing the tailpipe make sure to dig away excessive snow and ice. Break up the ice immediately surrounding the tires. Obviously, if you have a shovel, you can dig out the snow. If a shovel isn’t available use a sharp object to break up the ice below the tires. Ice is slippery, so the extra ruggedness will provide traction. Make sure you take off big snow clumps that might prevent your car from going over it, and make sure you throw your extra snow in the opposite place f where you want to move your car (believe me, it happens to the best of us).

2) Sprinkle salt, sand, and/or cat litter.

Sprinkling some salt will help to melt the ice. Use rock salt if you can, but table salt will also work if you use a lot. Sand and cat litter don’t melt the ice but they will provide traction, so give them a shot.

3) Ride the brakes as you pull out

Usually the reason why the car won’t move is because one wheel will spin more than the other since the ice causes it to have less resistance. Pressing the brakes slightly will lower the tires spinning and also transfer power to the other wheel so that both wheels are working to pull you out of the snow. Be careful not to do this for too long, so the brakes don’t overheat.

4) Keep the wheels straight

In a sticking situation, it is easier to move your car if the wheels that are straight than if they are turned, so make sure to turn the steering wheel to straighten the front wheels as much as possible (Unless there are any obstacles on the road, of course).

5) Use a low gear as you pull out

This trick might take a little patience but will often times get you out. Try gently accelerating and reversing back and forth until the wheels start to slip. Keep repeating this step back and forth until you have enough room to pull your car out.

6) Leting a little air out of the tires increases traction

Make sure to only try this step if your tires have enough air to spare. Avoid it if you have no way of filling them back up.

7) Have front-wheel drive? Use it!

If you have a front-wheel drive vehicle and the wheels are spinning, turning the wheels in a different direction while accelerating slowly can give you the extra traction that you need to get out. Don’t go accelerate too much though or you will make it worst.

8) Put the floor mats in front of the driving tires.

This is definitely a last resort since the mats will most likely end up destroyed. Using the mats might give your tires the traction needed to get out. Make sure you put them in front of the vehicles driving tires (front tires for front wheel drive and vice versa).

Conclusion

While carrying a shovel or having tire chains can get you out of most snow pickles, we know that most of the times we don’t have them handy when we need them. So in case we get any last minute snow this season, keep these tips handy!

Have any other ways to get your car out of a snow pickle? Let us know!

How To Prevent Road Rage

As much as I hate to admit it, I have to be honest: Human beings are angry drivers!

I, like most people, would like to give myself the benefit of the doubt that I am a great citizen at all times and completely prone to road rage. However, I like most people, have also been behind the wheel of a car after missing my work alarm, after long days, etc.

Each of us is different and has different day to day stressors that might make you more likely to suffer from road rage. So see what kind of driver you are and take these tips in consideration before next time you are behind the wheel.

1. Lack of sleep can make you cranky

This is one that should not come as a surprise but we all know how cranky we get when we miss out on sleep. Sleep exhaustions makes us more likely to resort to your angry feelings.

Try to get eight hours of sleep every night (the recommended daily dose of sleep for adults).

2. Plan ahead

Doing such as allotting yourself enough time to sleep will make your day easier behind the road, it also shows off the importance of planning ahead. Angry driving tends to be presentable, so take a look at your schedule and give yourself enough time to get places. Only you know your habits, so make the necessary adjustments to give yourself plenty of time to make your commute!

3. Angry music? Tone it down a little!

As big of a Metallica fan as I am, it does makes sense that listening to angry music might increase your chance for angry driving. Try listening to music that puts you in a good mood and reduce stress. While more relaxing music will lower your stress levels, it will also help cover up stressful traffic noise (Don’t overdo the volume as to completely drown it out!)

4. Share the road and practice kindness

One mistake I find myself making is a pretty common for people to make: assuming that when someone cuts you off, blocks you out, etc. they are doing it on purpose, which can then lead our own emotions to get a little out of hand. Most of the time, other drivers really don’t see you and will be quick to try to apologize. It is up to you how to react, so try to keep that in mind and keep your stress levels down.

5. Take the self-test.

The key to being able to change your driving behavior is admitting your own faults in order to correct them. One useful tool to analyzing your own emotional patterns came from our friends at Edmunds.com, so give them a try. Do any of the following statements sound like you? If you answer "yes" to any of these statements, then your driving style may qualify as aggressive.  

- I regularly have to speed in order to get to work on time.

- I tailgate other drivers, especially the ones that drive in the left lane.

- When other drivers do something to annoy me, I flash my lights and honk my horn to let them know.

- I am verbally abusive to other drivers, whether they can hear or not.

- I constantly weave in and out of traffic to get ahead of other drivers.

Conclusion                                                                                                             

At one point or another we will lose our cool on the road, however aggressive driving is something that can be prevented. Try to make sure you are rested before driving, give yourself extra time and practice common courtesy to others and you will be able to lower aggressive tendencies.

How to Avoid Getting Pulled Over!

How to Avoid Getting Pulled Over!

 

We’ve all been there…You are in a rush on your way to work and you begin to speed to get there. However just when you think you’re in the clear, you see the one thing you don’t want to see behind you at that specific moment: The old blue and red lights from your towns finest patrol man/woman.

While these are moments that we absolutely hate in life, getting pulled over is something that 99% of the time is preventable. So after doing some research and checking a few different sources, we have compiled a list of some of things NOT to do to avoid getting pulled over.

While these are the best we found, I am sure there is something we could have missed so feel free to comment and give us your own tips! And NO we don’t mean “outrun the cops” wise guys! :o)

1. Avoid Speeding. 

This one should be a no brainer, but it is the easiest way at getting pulled over. By now you should know to slow down in front of police, however the increase of traffic cameras have also made it a reason you might want to slow down.

Aside from saving you money on speeding tickets, you should think about your safety when speeding. The faster you go, the longer it takes to react to an unexpected situation, and the longer it will you’re your people to be able to completely come to a stop.

The worst parts of traffic tickets is that even if you take it to court, chances are you will lose. Speeding can usually be proven in the police officer’s favor, so even if you go to court, the most you can expect is reducing your penalty, but expect to pay a fine anyways.

Whether it is saving your driving record, your money or your health make sure you slow down.

2. Hazardous driving. 

This one should be a no brainer, but we may have all committed this without even knowing it!

While the category for hazardous driving usually makes people think of swerving, speeding, racing, etc. it also includes a whole range of things.

Remember that time you were rushing and had to eat your lunch on your way to work? That is something that counts as hazardous driving!

Remember that time you did your make up while driving? Or that time you had to change your outfit while driving? That is another example!

What you have to think about is this: If you have to take your attention away from the road to accomplish any task, it increases your risk of getting in an accident and thus it’s considered hazardous driving. If you really have to get something done while in the car, your safe bet is to just pull over where you can and take care of it.

3. Illegal cell phone use and equipment

By now over 30 states have banned texting while driving, and some have even banned all use of cell phones while behind the wheel. Unless you are using a hands free device, your best bet is to wait until you reach your destination to use your phone. Unless it’s an emergency, chances are you can wait to make that call or text that person. Doing so could save your life!

What exactly is considered illegal equipment? burned-out headlights, broken tail lights, heavily tinted windows, broken windshields, expired tags, the lack of a front license plate (in some states) and loud exhaust modifications are a few examples of illegal equipment that make you subject to being pulled over.

4. Following too closely and improper lane changes. 

This is something that you are advised against doing during driving school, but it’s something that too many people are guilty of. Following too closely can lead to an accident by shortening a driver's reaction time that combined with some other form of hazardous driving (cell phone use, eating, etc) can be deadly.

An improper lane change would mean, for example, cutting someone off or changing lanes without checking for cars next to you. Failure to signal can also be added to this ticket so make sure you always use your turn signals and LOOK before changing lanes.

5. Driving slower than traffic

This one might be a little shocking to everybody, but think about it this way. You are on your way home on the highway at night, following all speed limits of course ;), when all of the sudden you come across a person going way slower than you. There are no obstacles on the road, and there doesn’t seem to be any weather hazards such as rain or snow that would make this person drive that slow: What would you think?

That’s right, driving slower than traffic might actually make a police man you are 1) under the influence of something 2) being suspicious or 3) there is something wrong with you and increases your odds of getting pulled over.

In fact there are some highways that even have “minimum speed limits” to let people know what the safest ‘slow’ speed they can drive at.

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